Crate and carton handling attachment for industrial trucks



Aug. 17, 1965 J. L. BRADY ETAL CRATE AND CARTON HANDLING ATTACHMENT FORINDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed Dec. 3, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 50% ll 8 W R mu VA F 8 W L M & 4 l M vim Hm 2 l B PA M M 9 E I w, mm m J R w" V! J n w BG O o I 7 M E Q 2 l2 2 6 2 2 P. B 2 w mw /7 6 F E l\m 0 Q 0 w O B l M Vm w w 7 7 I m l|| ATTY.

Aug. 17, 1965 J. BRADY ETAL 3,200,978

CRATE AND CARTON HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed Dec. 3,1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 S I Y m 0 w T A R H H H hm I I I I I H H H H I I NR B l l lm m WWWWWWWWWW MM m a m H MH W w u n fl l n n n l u m L w w E As W m R 8 5 4 9 I HHHII IIIIHHIIIIIIII] III H l l l l l l l l l I U HH/HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII H I l I I I I I I I I 1 v /Za/M J. BRADY ETAL3,200,978

Aug. 17, 1965 CRATE AND CARTON HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 3, 1958 FIG. 2A

I I46 I 87 I74 I62 Ag 83 '52 I66 1 64 --\H I52 H 64 T lop {S2 63 62..|OO f o F1! ..z 60 6O*-- 4a- '48 T V /-l 58 INVENTORS JOSEPH L. BRADYA. BRUDI BY RONALD ATTY.

Aug. 17, 1965 J. L. BRADY ETAL CRATE AND CARTON HANDLING ATTACHMENT FORINDUSTRIAL TRUCKS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 3, 1958 m w mm m VLA m D LEA w ma ATTY.

Aug. 17, 1965 J. L. BRADY ETAL 3,200,978

CRATE AND CARTON HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed Dec. 3,1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 4

INVENTORS JOSEPH L. BRADY RONALD A. BRUDI f/WM ATTY.

Aug. 17, 1965 J. L. BRADY ETAL CRATE AND CARTON HANDLING ATTACHMENT FORINDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed Dec. 3, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 6

FIG. 8

INVENTORS JOSEPH L. BRADY RONALD A. BRUDI United States Patent 3,200,78CRATE AND CARTUN HANDLING ATTACHMENT FUR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Joseph L.Brady, Marshall, and Ronald A. Brudi, Battle Creek, Mich assignors toClark Equipment Company,

a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 777,999 23Claims. (Cl. 214-651) This invention relates to a lift truck attachment,and particularly to a universal type of attachment which is capable ofhandling non-pal-letized cartons of various dimensions and crates.

The prior art discloses a variety of crate and/ or carton handlingattachments such as is shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,670,095 to Blatz,2,726,000 to Quayle, and 2,826,- 323 to Schenkelberger. The presentinvention constitutes a significant improvement over all of the devicesof the foregoing patents in providing not only an improved crate handlerper se, but also in combining a crate handler with an improved anduniversalized type of carton handler which is adapted to handle varioustypes and sizes of cartons without pallets.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improveddevice for use with lift trucks which is capable of handling a varietyof types of non-palletized containers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a universal type ofcontainer handling attachment wherein the various parts which areassociatable with containers of different sizes and types may bedisposed in noninterfering relation one with the other.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device forhandling slatted crates.

It is a further object of the invention to generally improve upondevices of the type contemplated.

In broad outline, our attachment comprises a plurality of verticallyspaced elements which are engageable with the upper portions of cartonsof different heights in combination with means for supporting the bottomportions of such cartons, said elements being elevatable to differentheights relative to the supporting means depending upon the size of thecarton being handled. Certain of said elements may be disposed either ina position to engage cartons of relatively low height or retracted tonon-interfering relation with other of said elements when the latter areutilized to handle larger cartons. Separate means are provided forengaging slatted crates, and are preferably located in vertically spacedrelation to the carton engaging elements, being so constructed that thecrate engaging means move automatically into and out of crate engagingposition as required by the nature of the article being handled. Thisinvention also provides a pair of pivoted fork tines which may bedisposed in load engaging position, as required, for handling loads in aconventional manner.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be readilyapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view showing the attachment mounted On a lift truckwith certain parts broken away;

FIGURE 2. is a front elevational view of the attachment;

FIGURE 2A is a front view in partial section of the attachment withcertain parts removed;

FIGURE 2B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 23-23 of FIGURE2A;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan view of the attachment as shown in FIGURE2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE2; and

Patented Aug. 17, 1965 FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate schematicallythe operation of our attachment in handling containers of various sizesand types.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, our invention is illustratedgenerally at numeral 10 in association with a secondary upright or maststructure 12, of well known construction, of a conventional lift truck14 having a primary mast structure 16 mounted at one end thereof.Interposed between the primary and secondary masts is a roller mountedcarriage 18 of well-known construction which is elevatable in mast 16 inknown manner, and to which is detachably secured the secondary mast 12by means of bracket and plate means 20.

The latter means comprises a pair of vertically spaced plate members 22which extend transversely outwardly of either side of mast 12 and whichare secured to mast 12 by a pair of vertical columns 24 and a pair ofvertically extending plate members 26 secured to the opposite side edgesof plates 22 and having a transversely extending bar 28 secured betweenthe upper ends thereof (FIGS. 1 and 4). An inverted U-shaped bracket 30is secured along the upper edge of bar 28 and is adapted to engage theupper edge of carriage 18 such that adjacent surfaces of plate members22 and carriage 18 rest one against the other when the secondary mast issupported as shown. A horizontal support plate 32 is secured to lowerplate member 22 for supporting a hydraulic lifting motor 34 thereon.

Mast 12 comprises generally a pair of laterally spaced outer channelmembers 35 having a pair of laterally spaced channel members 36 nestedtherein for vertical movement relative thereto (FIG. 3). Transversebrace means 37 is located adjacent the upper end of the mast.

The attachment device 10 is secured to a carriage means 38 of thesecondary upright by means of a carrier plate 39 and inverted U-shapedbracket 40, similar to bracket 30 of carrier 20. Bracket 40 engages overthe upper edge of a transverse plate 41 of carriage 38 (FIG. 3). Thecarriage means 38 has secured thereto anchor blocks 42 to which thechains, not shown, of lifting motor 34 are connected to effect elevatingmovement of the attachment device relative to the secondary maststructure in well known manner. The carriage 38 is con nected to theinnerslide of upright 12 by roller means 43.

The mast assembly 12 together with the attachment device 10 are, ofcourse, actuatable together vertically on carriage means 18 of theprimary mast 16.

The above described construction is essentially conventional, and hasbeen described and shown rather generally in order to illustrate oneenvironment in which the present invention may be used.

The attachment which comprises the present invention includes a weldedframe assembly which consists generally of a pair of laterally spacedand vertically extending L-shaped side members 44,- a base plate 46secured between the side members and along the rear vertical surfacethereof, as by welding, to carrier plate 39, a pair of laterally spacedfork pivot shafts 48 located for rotation in pairs of mounting members50 which extend forwardly from the plate 46 and side members 44, a pairof laterally spaced vertically extending inner guide tubes 52, and apair of laterally spaced and vertically extending outer guide tubes 54.Inner tubes 52 are secured, as by welding, to base plate 46, and outertubes 54 are secured to opposite sides of the pair of side members 44 bya pair of vertically extending bars: 56.

A pair of laterally spaced fork tines 58 are mounted for pivotalmovement upon respective ones of shafts 48, the rearward end of each ofsaid fork tines being formed to provide an upwardly extending projection60 which engages within a detent 61 when the fork is positioned '3 3 forcarrying a load, said forks being pivotable to a vertical position aboutshafts 4-8 and back into the side members 44, in which position the forktines are held by a pair of laterally spaced clips 63 (FIG. 2).

A pair of laterally spaced and vertically extending outer drop plates#52 are secured by forwardly extending Webs 64 to a pair of elongatedguide tubes 66 which are nested within outer guide tubes 54. The outerguide tubes are provided in the forward portions thereof With verticallyextending slots 63 through which web members as project, therebypermitting relative vertical movement between the outer guide tubes andthe elongated tubes 66 (along with drop plates 62). A vertical slot isalso provided at the lower rear end portions of outer guide tubes 54,through each of which projects a stop member '70 which is secured alongits one edge to the rear-lower end of each tube es and which normallyabuts the upper surface of a cooperating stop member 72. The stops 72are secured to forwardly extending gusset plates 74 which extendrearwardly and laterally outwardly of channel sections of the secondaryupright and which are secured at the rear edges thereof to opposed edgesof side plate members 26 of the carriage 24 Stop members 72 aretherefore always maintained in the same vertical position relative toouter channel members 35. The lowermost position of outer guide tubes 54relative to upright structure 12 is fixed by the position of abutmentbetween cooperating stops 7d and 723. A pair of stop rings 76 aresecured to the upper ends of elongated tubes 66 for a purpose to bedescribed.

The pair of vertically extending inner guide tubes 52 have oppositelydisposed vertical slots 82 in the outer sections of the walls thereofand are secured to the forward surface of base plate 46. Extendingthrough the respective slots are a pair of web members 84- which aresecured at the one end to a pair of tubular members 556 nested withininner guide tubes 52, and at the opposite ends to a generally I-shapedcenter slide plate $8 by means of rearwardly and vertically extendingparallel pairs of connecting plates 9% (FIGS. 2 and 4).

Vertical slots 83 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are formed in the inner Wall portionsof inner guide tubes 52 and extend downwardly from the top of the guidetubes to the position indicated at numeral 85. Gpposed projecting pinmembers 87 extend through the slots 83 and are connected to oppositeones of tubular members 85. During elevation of inner guide tubes 52,slide tubes 86 remain in a lowered position until the bottoms 85 ofslots 83 are elevated into a position of abutment with pin members 87,subsequent to which continued elevation of tubes 52 cause tubes 86 to beelevated therewith.

A transverse support member 92 is connected between the lower ends ofthe inner slide 36- of the secondary upright. Extending forwardlytherefrom and centrally thereof is a fixed stop member 94. Anoverlapping stop member 96 extends rearwardly from the lower end ofI-shaped plate 88 and abuts stop 94 to fix the lowermost position ofI-shaped plate 88 and tubular members 86.

Mounted in the open sections of I-shaped drop plate 88 is a pair oflaterally spaced, retractable spades 98 which are adapted, When extendedas Shown, to engage beneath the lip portion of a tube and cap typecarton, for example, of relatively low height (FIG. 7). Laterally spacedpairs of vertically extending bars ltlil are secured inwardly of eachpair of plates 99 to form guide means for a pair of vertical slidemembers 1692 having forwardly extending projections N4 located at thelower central portions thereof. A generally H-shaped link member 1% ispivotally secured by a pin llld to each of the projections 104, there'arwardly extending legs of each of said link members being disposedvertically intermediate its respective slide member 102 and a stop 116which is secured to the base plate 46. The legs of each link memberunderlie the respective slide member and overlie the respective Stop110. Each pair of forwardly extending legs of the link members isfastened to a pivot block 114 by a 116, the respective spade 8 beingsecured to block 1 by a vertical pin lid. An upper toggle link 1213 ispiv otally secured at its opposite ends to each block ll i by a pin 122and to each slide 102 by a pin 124-, the connected adjacent ends of eachtoggle being connected by a pin 126.

The spades 98 may be folded manually upwardly and rearwardly into thepockets of I-shaped center slide plate 8%, in which position the forwardsurfaces of the spade membys are preferably flush with the slide plate.Such folding action is readily accomplished by simply breaking thetoggle links about the center pin connections 1.26 and then rotating thespade members upwardly and rearwardly about the pivot pin connections1&8 and 124.. A bracket i is provided on the inner surface of the lowertransverse section or". the l-shaped side plate (FIG. 1).

The bracket has an opening therein which registers with an opening atthe one end of link 1% when the spade is in a retracted position. A pinmay be then inserted through the openings for insuring retention of thespades in retracted position. The retracted position of links 1M and129, and of block 114 is illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 1.

As will be explained more fully hereinafter, each spade assembly 98moves vertically with the Lshaped drop plate 88 at all times when thespade members are in retracted position. When, however, the spademembers are extended to an operative position, the link members 1%extend horizontally rearwardly, whereby upward movement of abutment orstop blocks lltl move vertically with base plate 46 to engage the rearends of said links which lifts the spades to the top of the opensections of the center drop plate. In other words, when, and only when,the retractable spade members are extended for engaging a carton thecenter drop plate drops in relation to the spade members for a purposeto be described.

A pair of fixed, laterally spaced intermediate spade members 134 aresecured to pairs of vertically spaced and forwardly extending hangerplates 135 by means of pullout pins 138. The hanger plates are securedat the rear edges thereof to a supporting plate 149 which issubstantially coplanar with the base plate 46 and which is secured atits opposite ends to L-shaped side members 44.

Each of a pair of uppermost spade members 142 includes a pivot block 144which is held in position by means of a pull-out pin 14% between a pairof vertically spaced and transversely extending plates 146. The lowerplate M6 is connected to the upper ends of the inner guide tubes 52 by aplate 147 which rests on inner peripheral edge portions of tubes 52(FIG. 2). A pair of short tubes 149 depend downwardly from the lowerplate 146 and telescope within the upper ends of tubes 52, therebystabilizing spades 1142-. Plate 147 is connected to tubes M9 at itsopposite ends. Spades 142 always move vertically with tubes 52 and baseplate 46.

Located immediately below spade members 142 is a transverse plate member15d having a generally U-shaped cross-section with the outer legportions thereof turned laterally outwardly for connection, as bywelding, with L-shaped side members 4 5 (FIG. 3). Pairs of laterallyspaced lifting fingers 352 having serrated edges 154 in the upperforward portions thereof, extend rearwardly through cut-out sections 156in member 115%). Longitudinal slotted portions 158 are formed in eachsuch finger through which extend pivot pins 160. Each pivot pin extendsthrough openings in a pair of downwardly depending hanger plates 1&2which are secured along the forward edges thereof to the inner surfaceof plate rise. A center hanger plate 164 is interposed between each pairof plates 162 for separating adjacent ones of each pair of fingermembers: 152. A tension spring 166 is associated with each of thelifting fingers 152, and is attached to an upper bracket bracket 170which is attached to plate 156.

The springs 166 urge the finger members 152 to the forwardly extendingpositions thereof shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. The slots 158 permitrectilinear movement of the fingers 152 relative to pivot pins 160,whereas said pivot pins permit the fingers to be rotated upwardly in acounterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) and against the tension of springs166 so that said fingers can be moved to a flush position with theforward surface of spade members 142, cut-out portions 172 beingprovided in the spades so that the finger members can be so rotated. Apin member 174 extends through the lower portion of each set of hangerplates 162 and is positioned to abut the side of springs 166. Thepurpose of pins 174 is to cause respective springs 166 to bendrearwardly over the pins as the springs are stretched during rearwardrectilinear movement of fingers 152. In other words, when the fingers152 are moved rearwardly to a position wherein pivot pins 169 lieadjacent the forward ends of slots 158, the upper portion of each spring166 has been not only stretched, butalso bent to extend angularlyupwardly and rearwardly to bracket 16-8, whereby the springs effectreturn movement of fingers 152 when rearwardly directed pressure thereon-is released. In the event the fingers should be lowered downwardly uponthe top of a carton or other object, the fingers rotate as aforesaidagainst respective springs 166, and no breakage or undue strain of anyparts will occur. Therefore, any one or more of the fingers 152 can beactuated to an inoperative or flush position with spade members 142either by means of rectilinear or rotational movement thereof, or by acombination of the two movements.

Considering now the operation of the foregoing structure, and referringfirst to FIGURE 5, let it be assumed that the operator desires to engageand transport a relatively tall carton 180 of the tube and cap type. Asis well known, such a carton includes a reinforced annular cover portion131 which fits tightly over the upper end of the carton and which issufilciently flexible to permit ently between the inner and outerperipheries of the cap and carton, respectively, of lifting spademembers, such as shown at numerals 142, 134 and 98. The carton may, ofcourse, be square or rectangular in cross-section, for example, ratherthan tubular, with the cap having a similar shape.

The truck approaches carton 180 with the elements of the attachmentdevice Ill in the following condition: fork tines 58 are in aninoperative position, having been rotated upwardly about shaft members48 and held in a vertical position by clip members 60, and the lowerretractable spade members 98 are rotated to a retracted position withinthe open sections of I-shaped center drop plate 83, the rear portion oflinks 166 thereof being secured to bracket members 130. As the lifttruck is moved toward one side of carton 180 lifting fingers 152 movefirst into contact therewith, continued movement of the truck causingthe carton to actuate said lift fingers longitudinally rearwardly onpivot pins 160 until the side of the carton abuts spade members 142.Lift motor 34 is then energized to actuate the spade members upwardly sothat the forward plates thereof are moved under cap 181, whereuponcontinued extension of the lift motor in mast 12 and of mast 12in mast16 actuates spade members 142 and the carton upwardly together to anydesired elevation within the maximum obtainable elevation. The cartonmay, of

course, be transported to any desired destination while held above thefloor or other truck support surface.

In the assumed condition of operation, vertical movement of the liftmotor 34 first effects simultaneous vertical movement of the attachmentcarriage 38, lifting chain anchors 42, carrier plate 39, base plate 46and all parts ponnected to and supported from the base plate includingfork members 58, vertical side members 44 and outer guide tubes 54,inner guide tubes 52, plate l4t l'and associated intermediate spademembers 134 and plate 150 and associated upper spade members 142 andlifting fingers 152. During elevation of these parts of the attachmentout drop plates 62 and attached inner tubular members 66 remain in adown position on stop members 72 until outer guide tubes 54 are elevatedinto abutment with cap rings 76 of the tubes 66, following which innerand outer tube assemblies 54, 66 rise together during continuedextension movement of lift motor 34. Thus, the

members 190, will remain in a lowered position with stop members 96resting on stop member 94 until the bottom portion 85 of slots 83 ininner guide tubes 52 engage pins 87 in inner tubular members 86, whereinthe inner tube assemblies 52, 86, inner drop plate 88, lower spades 98,and associated parts, rise together during continued extension movementof lift motor 341. Thus, the inner drop plate 88 functions also tosupport the bottom side portion of the carton 180 during liftingmovement on uprights 12 and 16. The distance between the bottom of slots83 and pins 87 is preferably equal to the distance between the top edgeof outer guide tubes 54 and cap members 76, whereby with lower spademembers 98 in a retracted position, the outer and center drop plates 62and 88 will begin upward movement simultaneously; i.e., at the time ofengagement of pins 87 by the bottom portions 85 of slots 83 andengagement of cap 76 by outer guide tubes 54. It will therefore beapparent that substantially the entire bottom side portion of varooussize cartons having various heights and widths will be supported by saidplurality of drop plates upon engagement thereof by either of spademembers 142 or 134 and during transport and lifting movement thereofupon masts 12 and 16.

If it is desired to engage and transport a carton of any intermediateheight between the upper end of intermediate spades 134 and the upperends of upper spades 142, such as may be represented by the height ofthe slatted crate 182 in FIGURE 6, spade members 134 are moved intoadjacent relation with one side of such a carton with the lower spademembers 96 remaining in a retracted position within the open sections ofcenter drop plate 88. If desired, upper spade members 142 may be removedto reduce the overall height of the device for loading of freight carsand the like. As before, fork tines 58 remain in a retracted orinoperative position. Transverse plate member 149, towhich intermediatespade members 134 are secured, being connected to side members 44 movesupwardly therewith immediately upon actuation of the lift motor 34. Itwill be noted that whenever the attachment is used with lower spademembers 98 in retracted position, as during the handling of cartonseither of large or intermediate size, such as illustrated in FIG- URES 5and 6, the stop members 119 pass by and do not engage link members 106of spade members 93 so that the center drop plate and spade members 98remain in a lowered position against stop members 94 along with outerdrop plates 62 and associated structure until engaged as described abovein detail in connection with FIGURE 5. As elevation of the intermediatespade members 134 continues the cap portion of the carton is engaged andthe carton elevated, the same as previously described, with the centerand outer drop plates again supporting substantially the entire bottomside portion of the carton.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, let it be assumed that a relatively shortcarton 184 of similar type is to be engaged and transported. In thisinstance retractable spade members 98 are moved to an extended positionas shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. As before, fork tines 58 remain in aninoperative position, and, if desired, upper spade members 142 may againbe removed to reduce overall height. After moving into adjacency withthe side of carton llid, the lift motor is energized to elevate baseplate 46 and the structure connected hereto, as described above inconnection with FIGURE 5. It will be recalled that inner guide tubes 52,as well as stop members lid, are actuated upwardly with the base plate,while sliding inner tubular members as remain temporarily in a downposition along with I-shaped center drop plate It will be noted thatupward movement of stop members 116 actuates same into engagement withthe rear portions of link members llild when the spade members 93 areextended following a relatively small initial upward movement of stopmembers lit? prior to abutment with the link members, as best seen inFIGURE 1.

During initial upward movement of lower spade members 93 followingengagement thereof by stop members ill-ill, said spade members andassociated linkages move in the guides formed by bars llfiil while thecenter drop plate 38 and inner tubular members 86 remain in the loweredposition described above. However, the center drop plate begins to moveupwardly with the extended spade members following maximum free movementof the spade members in the open sections of the I-shaped drop plate.Toggle links 129 of spade members 98 pick up drop plate 86 followingsaid upward free movement of the spade members, after which the entirecenter drop plate assemblage, including inner tubular members 86, moveupwardly together.

It is during initial upward movement of the lower spade members that thecap portion of carton 184 is engaged by said spade members. In handlingrelatively small cartons such as 184 it has been found unnecessary toprovide for separate support along the lower edge portion thereof, spademembers 98 providing the necessary support therefor. Carton 134 may, ofcourse, be elevated to any desired height within the limitations of liftof the masts l2 and 16, outer drop plates 62 and'associated parts of thedevice 10 being non-interferingly elevated in the sequence abovedescribed with respect to FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 6 illustrates schematically engagement of a slatted crate byserrated lift fingers 152, said crate being held by spade members 134against a tendency to rotate forwardly during lifting movement. it willbe apparent that lift fingers 152 cannot be damaged by lowering sameonto the top of a load since counterclockwise rotation thereof, as seenin FIGURE 1, will be effected against the tension of springs 166. Forexample, as seen in FIGURE 5, it may be assumed that the attachmentdevice was lowered from an elevated position into position for engagingcarton 18%. During such lowering movement lift fingers 152 came intocontact with cap portion 181 which caused said lift fingers to berotated to the position shown without damage to either the carton or theattachment device. Normally, of course, the attachment device will bebrought into engagement with the side of a carton from a loweredposition, in which instance relatively tall cartons will engage the liftfingers forwardly thereof to cause same to be actuated rectilinearlyrearwardly as described hereinbefore.

FIGURE 8 illustrates conventional handling of the load on the fork tines58 which are located in operative positions, in which position the forktines are maintained by detents 62 and upwardly extending end portionsas.

In characterizing this invention in relatively broad terms, the upper,intermediate and lower spade members, along with the outer and centerdrop plates, may each be referred to as load engaging means, and thesaid drop plates may be referred to in the alternative as abutmentelements." The outer drop plates 62 and the inner drop plate 88 each hasa lost motion connection with both the upper and intermediate. spademembers during carton handling operations by either of said spademembers; i.e., all of said drop plates remain in a lowered positionduring predetermined elevation of said upper and intermediate spademembers, such elevation being equal to the distance of travel of guidetubes 54 and 52 from a lowered position to a position in which saidguide tubes contact members 76 and 87, respectively. The lower spademembers 93 follow the movements of center drop plate 83 so long as saidspade members remain in a retracted position. However, when the spademembers 98 are extended, the lost motion of the upright 12 and the upperand intermediate spade members with the base plate 46 relative to lowerspade members 98 and drop plate 83, is greatly reduced in that stopmembers Mil on the base plate move through only a small initial distanceprior, to contact with link members 1% and lifting of spade members 98.Relatively small subsequent upward movement of the spade members 98within the open sections of the I-shaped drop plate then takes placeprior to lifting of the drop plate with the lower spade members. Theunique construction of load grabs 152 is also provided in combinationwith the foregoing structure, as well as adjustable fork tines 58, forhandling other specialized types of loads, as well as conventionalpalletized types of loads.

It will be appreciated that any size of carton between, for example, theexemplary cartons'illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, may be readily handledby our attachment in the manner described above. In the handling ofcartons by means of either upper or intermediate spade 142 or 134, dropplates or abutment elements 62 and 83 may also be utilized as means foraligning the sides of cartons which are stacked vertically. For example,let it be assumed that carton 18%, FIG. 5, is of somewhat lesser height,the bottom thereof being represented by the broken line. With such acarton elevated as shown, abutment elements 62 and $5; will extend asignificant distance below the bottom of the carton during subsequentelevation of the carton and may be utilized for aligning the side of thecarton which is engaged by spade 142 with the adjacent side of anothercarton upon which carton 189 is to be stacked. In fact, the onlyinstance in which abutment elements 62 may not be so used as articlealigning means is in the event that the carton being handled is of sucha height that substantially full lost motion movement of spades 142, forexample, relative to elements 62 is required prior to engagement withthe cap 181 of the carton. Thus, when upright 12 is operated to stack afirst such carton upon a second carton, the forward face of the lowerportion of each abutment element 62 (and also element 88 when spade 98is in a retracted position) will engage the adjacent side surface of thesecond carton thereby aligning the first carton therewith, whereupon thefirst carton may be deposited on the second carton in truevertically'stacked relation thereto;

From the above it will now be readily understood that we have devised auniversal type of attachment device, particularly useful in conjunctionwith lift trucks, but not limited to such use. By means of the singularand extremely novel attachment of our invention, operators are enabledto handle cartonized or crated loads of widely varying dimensions with ahigh degree of safety, since for any such load desirable support meansare provided in the nature of engaging members for lifting the load aswell as supporting drop plates. In addition, conventional load engagingmeans, illustrated as fork tines, are provided for use at the will ofthe operator while being movable to a non-interfering position when notin use.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art thatvarious changes in the form and relative arrangement of parts may bemade to suit requirements without departing from the scope oftheinvention. i

We claim:

1. In a truck having a load lifting mast at one end thereof, an uprightload lifting frame movable vertical- .ly in the mast including platemeans extending transversely of the truck, a pair of transversely spacedand vertically extending guide means connected to the plate, avertically extending opening formed in one side of each guide means, apair of cooperating transversely spaced and vertically extending membersslidable relative to the pair of guide means and supported thereby, dropplate means having connection with said pair of members through saidopenings, cooperating abutment portions assoeiated with said pairs ofguide means and members, and at least one load engaging member securedto the lifting frame, said pair of guide means being elevatable with theframe and load engaging means a pre-determined distance relative to saiddrop plate means following which said cooperating abutment means engageto elevate said drop plate with said load engaging means.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein stop means are associated witha fixed portion of the load lifting mast and with the drop plate forestablishing a normal lowered position of the drop plate prior tolifting thereof following engagement of said cooperating abutment means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide means andcooperating vertically extending members comprise telescopical tubularelements, said drop plate eing mounted forwardly thereof to provide anabutment surface, and said load engaging means is formed to engage anoverlapping portion of a load container and is essentially coplanar in avertical plane with said drop plate, said drop plate extendingsubstantially below the load engaging means, whereby engagement of aload container by the load engaging means and subsequent lifting thereofaffords support of the lower portion of that side of the container inabutment with said drop plate as relative vertical movement between theload engaging means and drop plate is effected.

4. In a truck having a load lifting mast at one end thereof, an uprightload lifting frame movable vertically in the mast including transverseplate means extending laterally outwardly of either side of the mast,transverse ly spaced outer guide means supported from and extendingvertically of opposite end portions of said plate means, transverselyspaced inner guide means supported from and extending vertically of saidplate means transversely inwardly of said outer guide means, first andsecond load engaging means associated with said plate means and outerguide means, respectively, and movable vertically a pre-determineddistance one relative to the other, and third and fourth load engagingmeans associated with said plate means and inner guide means,respectively, also movable vertically a predetermined distance onerelative to the other, said first and third load engaging means beingspaced vertically relative to each other and cooperable with said secondand fourth load engaging means, respectively, for supporting at theupper and lower portions load containers of various dimensions.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second and fourth loadengaging means are essentially coplanar and are spaced transversely ofeach other, said relative vertical movement between said first andsecond and said third and fourth load engaging means, respectively,being effected by lost motion movement of said outer and inner guidemeans, respectively.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said lost motion movementpermits essentially equal vertical movement of said first and third loadengaging means prior to ertical movement therewith of said second andfourth load engaging means.

7. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein retractable fifth loadengaging means is operably connected to said fourth load engaging meansand vertically below said third load engaging means and is adapted toengage load containers of different dimensions than any engaged byeither said first or third load engaging means.

8. In a truck having a load lifting mast at one end thereof, an uprightload lifting frame movable vertically in the mast, laterally spaced andforwardly extending load engaging members, pivot means securing saidmembers to opposite side portions of the frame, said members beingmovable out of forward load engaging position to vertically disposedinoperative position, load engaging means op eratively connected to thelifting frame, said operative connection including means enabling theload engaging means to be actuated in a longitudinal direction tooperative or inoperative position relative to the lifting frame, saidload engaging means being disposed normally above the load engagingmembers and selectively extensible to operative position when said loadengaging members are located in inoperative position, and means separatefrom the load lifting frame for actuating the load engaging meansupwardly when the latter is in inoperative position, said load liftingframe actuating the load engaging means upwardly when the latter isdisposed in operative position.

9. In a truck having a load lifting mast at one end thereof, an uprightload lifting frame movable vertically in the mast, a series of cratelifting grabs having surfaces adapted to be applied to the underside ofthe rail of a crate and having longitudinal slots formed therein,transverse mounting means extending through the slot of each grab forconnecting same to the lifting frame and for permitting rectilinearmovement of each grab relative to the frame, and resilient meansconnected to the grabs and to the lifting frame in such a manner thateach grab is urged to its outward operative position relative to thelifting frame.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein a member extends transverselyof the resilient means and is secured to the lifting frame such thatrectilinear inward movement of a grab causes the resilient means to bendover said latter member thereby exerting an outward force thereon urgingthe grab to its outward position upon release of an inwardly directedforce thereon.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means connecting thegrabs to the lifting frame comprises pivot means permitting upwardpivotal movement of each grab in opposition to the urging of saidresilient means, said upward pivotal movement being independent of orcombined with rectilinear movement dependent upon the direction of anoutside force imposed upon each grab.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein load engaging means aresecured to the lifting frame above the lifting grabs, said lifting grabsextending longitudinally outward of said load engaging means forengaging the underside of the rail of a crate, and being actuatedinwardly thereof to inoperative position by container means uponengagement therewith by said load engaging means, said inward actuationbeing effected either rectilinearly in said slot as when the grab ismoved into abutment with a side of a container to be handled by the loadengaging means, or rotationally upwardly as when the grab is ac: tuateddownwardly with the lifting frame into abutment with an upper surface ofthe container.

13. In a truck having a load lifting. mast at one end thereof, a liftingmember, a series of crate lifting grabs having surfaces adapted to beapplied to the underside of a rail of a crate, each of said grabs havinga longitudinal slot formed therein, pivot means extending through theslot of each grab for connecting each grab to the lifting member, andresilient means connecting said grabs to the lifting member for urgingsaid grabs to outward operative position, each grab being actuatableinwardly or upwardly on the pivot means against the resilient means uponthe application of an outside force.

14. In a truck having a load lifting mast at one end thereof, an uprightload lifting frame movable vertically in the mast, vertically extendingload engaging spade means secured to the lifting frame, verticallyextending drop plate means operatively connected to the lifting frameand disposed beneath the spade means, said operative connectionincluding vertically extending lost motion means between the liftingframe and said drop plate means for permitting pro-determined verticalmovement of the spade means on the lifting frame prior to verticalmovement of the drop plate means, whereby relatively tall containerizedloads may be engaged at the upper portion thereof by the upper spademeans while said drop plate means maintains its vertical position duringpie-determined upward movement of the spade means with said load,following which the spade means and plate means move vertically togetherto effect support at the upper and lower portions of the container.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein a series of crate liftinggrabs having surfaces adapted to be applied to the underside of a railof the crate are secured for inward rectilinear and upward rotationalmovement relative to the lifting frame, said grabs normally extendingoutwardly of the spade means until said spade means is actuated intoengaging position with a load whereupon said grabs are actuated to aninoperative or non-load engaging position.

16. In a truck having a load lifting mast at one end thereof, an uprightload lifting frame movable vertically in the mast, a first load engagingmeans operatively connected to and disposed forwardly of said liftingframe,

the operative connection including lost motion means whereby said loadlifting frame is movable vertically a predetermined distance prior tovertical movement of said load engaging means, and second load engagingmeans selectively first movable vertically with either the load liftingframe or the first load engaging means.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16 plus means connecting said secondload engaging means to said first load engaging means in such a mannerthat said second means is selectively movable within and without theplane of said first means to inoperative and operative positions,respectively.

18. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said sec ond load engagingmeans when placed in inoperative position is first movable verticallywith the first engaging means, and when placed in operative position isfirst movable vertically with the load lifting frame and relative to thefirst engaging means.

19. A device as claimed in claim 16 plus third load engaging meanssecured to the load lifting frame and above said second engaging means,said third engaging means being movable vertically with the liftingframe a pre-determined distance relative to the first engaging means,and said second engaging means being movable also with the load liftingframe when said second engaging means is located in a load engagingposition.

20. A device as claimed in claim 16 plus load engaging fork tinespivotally connected to the load lifting frame for selective placement inoperative or inoperative load engaging positions.

21. In a truck having a load lifting mast at one end thereof, an uprightload lifting frame movable vertically in the mast, first verticallyextending load engaging means secured to the frame and movablevertically therewith to engage an overlapping portion of a loadcontainer, second load engaging means extending vertically beneath thefirst load engaging means adapted to abut and support one "l2;vertically extending side of a load container when the latter is engagedby the first load engaging means, and lost motion means interconnectingsaid first and second load engaging means such that said first loadengaging means may be elevated a pre-determined distance with said frameprior to elevation of said second load engaging means, said lost motionmeans including a first vertically extending tubular guide member havinga vertically extending slot formed in the wall thereof and connected tothe frame, a second vertically extending tabular member nested withinthe first member for relative sliding movement therewith and guidedthereby, abutment means associated with said first and second members,the abutment means of said first member being normally disposed beneaththe abutment means of the second member and actuatable upwardly with theframe to engage the abutment means of the second member, whereafter saidfirst and second members are elevatable together with the load liftingframe, and an element extending through said slot for securing saidsecond member to the second load engaging means. 7

22. In a truck having a load lifting mast at one end thereof, an uprightload lifting frame movable vertically in the mast, laterally spaced andforwardly extending load engaging members, pivot means securing saidmembers to opposite side portions of the frame, said members beingmovable out of forward load engaging position to vertically disposedinoperative position, load engaging means operatively connected to thelifting frame, said operative connection including means enabling theload engaging means to be actuated in a longitudinal direction tooperative or inoperative position relative to the lifting frame, saidload engaging means being disposed normally above the load engagingmembers and selectively extendible to operative position when said leadengaging members are located in inoperative position, drop plate means,said load engaging means being movable longitudinally relative to saiddrop plate means, and lost motion means operatively connecting said dropplate means to the lifting frame, said load engaging means being firstmovable upwardly with the lifting frame when located in an inoperativeposition and being first movable upwardly with the drop plate means whenlocated in an inoperative position.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said drop plate meanscomprises a generally I-shaped member, said load engaging means beingretractable to inoperative position within the confines of the opensections of the drop plate means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,670,095 2/54latz 214-653 2,726,000 12/55 Quayle 2l4-653 2,744,645 5/56 Cirillo 2l465l 2,757,812 8/56 Kughler 2l4653 2,799,417 7/57 Morrell 2l46522,893,582 7/59 Parcell 2l4651 HUGO o. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

ERNEST A. PALLER, 311., MORRIS TEMZN,

v Examiners.

1. IN A TRUCK HAVING A LOAD LIFTING MAST AT ONE END THEREOF, AN UPRIGHTLOAD LIFTING FRAME MOVABLE VERTICALLY IN THE MAST INCLUDINGG PLATE MEANSEXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE TRUCK, A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED ANDVERTICALLY EXTENDING GUIDE MEANS CONNEICTED TO THE PLATE, A VERTICALLYEXTENDING OPENING FORMED IN ONE SIDE OF EACH GUIDE MEANS, A PAIR OFCOOPERATING TRANSVERSELYY SPACED AND VERTICALLY EXTENDIN MEMBERSSLIDABLE RELATIVE TO THE PAIR OF GUIDE MEANS AND SUPPORTED THEREBY, DROPPLATE MEANS HAVING CONNECTION WITH SAID PAIR OF MEMBERS THROUGH SAIDOPENINGS, COOPERATING ABUTMMENT PORTIONS AS-